The victory helped the Kazakh take a significant step toward securing the year-end world No. 1 ranking.
Elena Rybakina defeated unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 6-2 in the final of the Ningbo Open, retaining the title and winning her first trophy at world No. 1.
The win also moved the Kazakh further toward securing the year-end No. 1 ranking and added to a strong season in which she won the Australian Open before later adding the US Open title to reach the summit.
Top-seeded Rybakina used her trademark power to dominate the opening set, converting in the fifth game before producing a strong crosscourt backhand winner to take a 4-2 lead. The 27-year-old finished the set in 38 minutes.
Fernandez, ranked world No. 30, started the second set well but could not sustain the pressure against Rybakina’s rising level. Rybakina forced an error and broke to take a 2-1 lead, before closing out the match.
The latest title was a timely boost after setbacks in Beijing and Wuhan, as Rybakina prepares for the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo before beginning her title defence at the season-ending WTA Finals in Indian Wells from November 8.
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